Growing abroad

There is no doubt that CATEC has become one of the most advanced technological centres in Spain and a reference in R&D in Europe, especially in areas such as drones and unmanned systems, robotics and industry 4.0, additive manufacturing (3D printing) or non-destructive inspection, which are already marking the present and future of the aerospace industry and other important productive sectors. And not because we say it, but the results that we have achieved throughout our 11 years of history and professional trajectory talk by themselves.

We announced some days ago a new milestone in the history of FADA-CATEC, and especially in our internationalization and growth process towards foreign markets. This is no other than the first project in the field of technological developments in 3D printing outside the European continent, thanks to the collaboration with the company INVAP Argentina, which means our leap crossing the ocean to Latin America, precisely in an area of great value such as components and parts manufacturing for satellites and launchers for the space sector.

In a year in which precisely the city of Seville is assuming and leading the presidency of the Community of Ariane Cities (CVA), and Andalusia is boosting its growth in the aeronautical sector reached in the last decade, we are convinced that this new CATEC project will contribute to show the high technological and industrial capacity that our industry has and to continue encouraging our companies to keep on on this good path, betting on R&D and high added value activities.

The latest figures for the year 2017 are again clear and consolidate Andalusia as a region that has not stopped growing in turnover, employment and exports in the aerospace sector, and that already faces the future with new challenges and illusions. The new strategic plan of the sector must be a key element in all this, and the base for the Andalusian aerospace sector to continue growing abroad, with the support of all the agents involved and with the R&D and the promotion of innovation as main allies. Only this way will strengthen our position as a of the fastest growing industries in the European and international level, and with better prospects for the coming years.

Joaquín Rodríguez Grau
Director of CATEC

Editorial

Progress and development to keep flying

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According to latest data presented recently in the industry report made by the Cluster Hélice, the Andalusian aerospace industry continued growing in 2014 consolidating its leadership in the aerospace sector in Spain and Europe. A year with a further increase in turnover and employment, but also in other important indicators such as the level of qualification of Andalusian professionals, the rate of growth compared to the average of the Spanish sector or entrenched position of Andalusia as the second national aerospace region.

In FADA-CATEC we feel satisfied, and we are pleased with the tiny grain of sand that we bring from our Centre each year in the field on R&D, a key aspect to increase the competitiveness of our companies and contribute to achieve those results. Here, in this new newsletter, we present a good example, where we highlight some of the latest advances and technological developments we have achieved and also various aerospace companies, which can provide new business opportunities for the sector's future.

First of all, works successfully done with Airbus Defence & Space that allowed introducing additive manufacturing technology (3D printing) in the manufacture of components for future space launchers of the European Space Agency (ESA); secondly, the collaboration with the Spanish company Aernnova in its participation in the new European program Clean Sky, in order to create a more efficient, sustainable and environmentally friendly aircraft. No less interesting is the ARCOW initiative, a project that also works with Airbus DS for the application of robots and drones in the assembly and manufacture process of aeronautical structures in plants, that has been chosen as one of the top five European projects to participate in the robotics competition EUROC, one of the largest in Europe.

We are moving in the right direction, but we must insist on this technological work effort if we want to continue flying in the top world aviation places. We will center our commitment and efforts in this direction, working and collaborating with companies (especially the auxiliary industry) in the development of new technologies and knowledge-based solutions that enable our industry to increase its share of added value, competitiveness and, consequently, business and economic activity (sales, employment, etc.).